The Gwyneth and Chris effect: 40% of Brits admit to holidaying with an ex (and 38% prolong relationships to avoid cancelling a break)

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s ‘consciously uncoupled’ trip to the Bahamas isn’t as unusual as it seems – with 39 per cent of Brits admitting to holidaying with an ex.

More than a third (38 per cent) of people questioned in a new study confess to prolonging a relationship to avoid cancelling a travel booking – and are twice as likely to pretend they are still in love.

Nearly half of women surveyed (43 per cent) by lastminute.com said they would use a pre-planned break as a way to get back with a former flame – compared to 35 per cent of men.

Break up: Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin (pictured here in Hawaii in December) took a break in the Bahamas to mark their split

And 29 per cent of women said they would still go on the trip with a past boyfriend even if they had a new partner. But only 16 per cent of men said they would they would take a break with an ex if they had a new girlfriend.

The 25-35 age range is the most likely to go away with an past lover, even if they have a new partner, followed by 35-44-year-olds, then 41 per cent of 18-24-year-olds.

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They were also the age range most likely to get intimate with an ex-partner when on a break, with 32 per cent of 25-34-year-olds admitting to sharing a bed, compared to just 10 per cent of 18-24 year olds.

And in what could be a sign of the digital age, 85 per cent of Brits who confessed to indulging in holidays with an ex had booked their break through a mobile phone, compared to 22 per cent of those who hadn’t.

Matthew
Crummack, President of lastminute.com commented: 'We have always known that
a more spontaneous approach to travel can be good for us, and many studies have
shown it is actually good for our well-being.

'As far back as 1946
psychologists found that acting in a more spontaneous way was linked to higher
self-esteem, happiness and adventure seeking.

'Our new survey however, also
suggests that when you take a less planned approach to travel it could also
save many peoplefrom having to holiday with an ex on a pre-planned
trip. And the love-struck could benefit from being a little more last-minute in
their bookings.'